Hot Ham and Cheese

If you don't know already, and haven't guessed from my recent pictures, we are expecting another lil munchkin in October! We are extremely excited for this new adventure, and Munchkin truly believes it is HER baby. Anyway... One of the things you are supposed to steer clear of is cold meat (fear of listeria and miscarriages); however, Dad and Munchkin conventiently love hot ham and cheese sandwiches. I know it sounds pretty simple, but dressed up with the right bread and sides it can make a pretty good meal. Here's how we do hot ham and cheese in the Anthony house...

It literally is as simple as it sounds (especially with good old Goerge Foreman). First, get some good bread...we used fresh Italian subs this time. Next, make just like grilled cheese except add ham. Butter the out sides of your bread, add cheese and ham, and throw them on whatever cooking source (may have to flip halfway through). 

SIDES...

Homemade mashed potatoes

       2 potatoes

       3/4 cup of milk 

       2 tbsp of butter

       1/2 cup shredded cheese

       Salt to taste

Cook potatoes in the microwave ( yes, it works just as good as anything), add the rest of the ingredient and mash until they look the way you like. 

We also had a fruit salad of peaches, strawberries, and red raspberries (I love summer).  

Let those puppies cook until they are good and crisp on both sides. 

Ok, I confess, we made cookies too. 

Lastly, to update on some of our summer happenings... Munchkin finished soccer camp! She was so proud of herself and her shirt!

Strawberry Picking

It's my turn! Yep, I had a birthday also, and Munchkin and I had a fun filled day together. Our town is sort of famous for the annual strawberry festival, and for the past couple years I've been meaning to go strawberry picking. As it turns out my birthday was a perfect day for it...

I think she was more excited to get the bucket than the strawberries, but for a toddler she was an excellent helper (and entertained everyone around us). 

Wouldn't you be entertained by this?

About halfway through she said, "mommy I think our bucket is full". She may have been a bit tired, but she trucked on until we actually did fill up the entire bucket (and we only ate a couple...)

Well, we picked a gallon of strawberries for the three of us so I knew we were going to have to get cooking. 

First up... Strawberry cobbler!

http://chocolatechocolateandmore.com/fresh-strawberry-cobbler/

We also made a strawberry sauce that dad is loving on vanilla ice cream. 

During my birthday weekend (and our anniversary) we also had a blast at the Cinncinati Museum Center, and a visit to UC to see my brother and check out thier new stadium.

Racing at the museum in thier sports exhibit

The Bearcat!

Birthday Chex Mix

Well, I cannot believe it but my lil munchkin is now a three-year-old!  She is getting so big and grown up.  She talks non-stop, and is one of the most curious people I know.  As if that wasn't enough she is now registered for pre-k in the fall!

Each year we do a big birthday bash at the house, and this year ended up being no different.  The theme was "Once Upon A Birthday", and centered around the princess that she is.  The little ones had a blast with bubbles.  We had pulled pork, a baked potato bar, and much more; however, when my grandma asked what she could bring I had just the idea...

Munchkin and I went over to her house and made about 3 gallons of chex mix!

Grandma always makes tons of chex at Christmas time, and it is one of my favorite things.  I've been trying to find the opportunity to make it, and this was a perfect excuse.  Little did I know I would not have to do a thing but stand back and watch Munchkin and Grandma do all the work...

Grandma measured, she poured...

HEY GET YOUR HANDS OUT OF THERE!

No matter how hard I try what good is baking without a little taste test?

They both stirred...

Once it baked not even I was prepared for the massive pour!


And, of course, there was more taste testing...


The Chex turned out to be a huge hit at the party!  I cannot thank my grandma enough for the help, and lesson in making it.  No matter how busy or tired she is she always goes out of her way to make her 5 kids, 13 grand-kids, and 12 (soon to be 15) great-grand-kids happy.  THANK YOU GRANDMA!

A couple pics of the big day...

After a small (accidental) dip in the bubble pool we had a wardrobe change.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUNCHKIN! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Easter - Peeps Playdough

I know this is a bit late, but I wanted to get a post in about our Easter festivities.  Munchkin and I flew out to Connecticut to visit her Aunt Ali over Easter weekend so the actual Easter celebrations were dispersed throughout the next week (spring break).  After a great visit with my sister and her husband, and munchkin's first plane ride, we were ready to spend some time hanging out at home.

Like I said, it was after Easter by this time, so of course you know what that means...Easter candy sale!  I found a really interesting recipe for Peeps Play-dough so we picked up a couple packs (pink of course).

Peeps Play Dough Recipe

• 5 Peeps
• 3 tbsp of corn starch (corn flour in the UK)
• 1 & 1/2 tsp of coconut oil (other oils will also work)
• Optional:  Food coloring for rich coloring

• Combine the above ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl, and heat until the Peeps expand

I had to really work it for a while until it became a consistency she could play with,
and even then she kept saying "sticky, sticky!"

After about 10 minutes it started to get a little hard so I added a little more oil.
That gave it about another 15 min.  It is definitely a one time use play-dough, but
she had fun with the different texture and seeing the transformation so I would do it again.

Again, the Easter bunny came a week late, but sshh she's two and had no clue...
It was always tradition in my house to hide the Easter basket, but since she's so young the Easter Bunny
left a trail of his eggs all the way from her bed to where her basket was hidden behind the couch.
When she woke us up in the morning she informed us, "there are eggs all over the floor!"

EASTER EGG HUNT AT GREAT GRANDMA'S...

Aunt Mo and cousin Carmen

Getting a little help from Uncle Tom and Jessie

Munchkin and Carmen looking through their finds...

I absolutely love ALL holidays mostly for getting to spend time with family I don't get to see everyday, the food, and most of all making new traditions with my husband and daughter!

Granola Sunday

I don't know why, but it always seems I have the most cooking ambition on Sundays (maybe it's because I usually do my shopping that day as well).  We go through granola like it's going out of style so I have been meaning to make my own since it is so cost efficient.  This was also a really easy one for the little one to help with.

Coconut Oil

         Agave Nectar

      Add oats, nut, and anything else you want (I threw in chia seeds, a little brown sugar, and cinnamon)

      Spread everything on a pan, and bake for about 15-20 minutes (until hard)

We went to visit our friends Jen and Lucy again this weekend, and Munchkin had a blast playing with Lucy and her cousin Ava. I couldn't resist posting this one...

                                     

Zucchini Chips

I found a bunch of zucchini for a really good price so in my attempt to get her to eat more veggies we made zucchini chips!

For christmas my mom got us some new kitchen gadgets, and I was excited to put this one to use today...

I have no clue what it's actually called, but it worked pretty great for chip making!

I just finished the chopping when munchkin realize what I was doing. She quickly grabbed her stool, and while scooting it over to me was singing, "mommy here I come to help you!" Which was fine because the chopping was done and all that was left was...

Mixing...

and Mixing...

and mixing...

RECIPE:

Chop zucchinis, mix in with olive oil and salt

bake in oven for about 1.5 hours at 250 degrees (watch closely until they are how you want them)

They turned out pretty yummy, but Munchkin still decided to eat an orange instead